Are meal times with your picky eater a source of tremendous stress? Will your child start crying or fussing at the sight of a new and unfamiliar food? Are you concerned about your child’s nutritional intake considering the short list of foods that he or she will actually eat? These are common concerns that often bring nervous parents in seeking the support of a Registered Dietitian.
It is important to note that meal times SHOULD NOT be stressful! Keeping a calm and relaxed eating atmosphere helps children develop confidence and positive associations with food. Rest assured that children will naturally test their limits and it is the parent’s...
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When I mention the word protein, what first comes to mind? Do you think of muscles or strength, or do you think of weight control, possibly energy boosting, or maybe you simply think about different types of foods that contain protein? Today, “protein” is a new industry buzzword used to sell food products like drinks, bars and cereals. And it works! Barry Calpino, vice president for Kraft Foods described protein and stated, "It's one of those rare things that has a lot of different meanings to a lot of different people and they are all positive."
Today, let’s take a closer look at protein, how much you need...
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If you are in search of a high protein, fibre-rich, quick and nutritious option, look no further than the frozen section of the grocery store for edamame!
Edamame, pronounced ed-uh-MAH-may, is the name for the fresh, young soybeans that are harvested before the seeds harden. Edamame is popular in Chinese, Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine. Edamame beans have a subtle buttery flavour, are crunchy in texture and are found inside a fuzzy green pod. These bright pods are often steamed or boiled and served with a little salt. You can also purchase shelled edamame, which saves you time from squeezing the tasty bean out of the pod.
[bctt tweet="Edamame (ed-uh-MAH-may)...
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What is the point of making a New Year’s resolution for living better, healthier lives if it is not maintainable? Today, I will share my 5 best tips for boosting your health and well-being! All my tips are achievable and sustainable all year round!
1. Focus on “life-long change”:
This year, ditch all those fad diets, the hunger strikes, the elimination diets and take charge of your health with real foods that taste good! Remember that any valiant effort to lose weight that involves deprivation and/or extreme exercise is unsustainable; you will eventually default to your old habits. Therefore, make a commitment to focus on lifelong behavior change using...
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With the arrival of the holiday season, too many of us feel that familiar “holiday stress” creeping up. Isn’t this season supposed to be a fun-filled and joyous time? Why then do so many of us now complain of feeling increased stress? Whatever the cause, help is on the way with my top 7 holiday stress busting tips.
De-stressing is so important (all year long) because physical and emotional stress negatively impact our health. Research supports the link between stress and conditions like heart disease, hypertension, headaches and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Stress is also a contributor in making certain conditions like irritable bowel syndrome,...
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As we slowly become inundated with Christmas commercials and holiday music, I thought this would be an ideal time to explore a select superfood for the winter! As a refresher, a “superfood” is just a fancy word to describe a food with an extraordinary nutritional profile along with associated health benefits.
Pomegranates will be my featured superfood because they are not only sweet and refreshing, but they also pack a nice nutritional punch! You can spot this fantastic fruit in supermarkets between September and January. When selecting your fruit, look for...
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National Oatmeal Day: With the chilly weather already upon us, nothing hits the spot better than a big bowl of warm oatmeal. This post is dedicated to this nutritious and satisfying breakfast option. First, let's start with facts on oatmeal and then I will share my homemade fibre-packed oatmeal recipe.
Did you know?
Oatmeal is a whole grain (not refined -still contains the bran and germ)
It contains 3g of protein and 3g of fibre in 1/3 cup serving
Oatmeal lowers cholesterol (thanks to the beta-glucan, type of soluble fibre)
Steel-cut oats have modestly more fibre (longer cook time)
Stabilizes blood sugars which keeps you feeling fuller longer...
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Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day; yet a startling 40% of Canadian children do not eat breakfast on a daily basis according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Over half of adults also frequently skip breakfast with reasons varying from: not feeling hungry, to wanting to ‘cut calories’ or simply trying to save time in the morning. Whatever the excuse, breakfast is truly a vital part of healthy living and has numerous health benefits.
Today, I will share my top 5 benefits from daily breakfast consumption. My follow-up blog will identify some balanced, nutritious breakfast ideas for morning mealtime inspiration!
Five Reasons to Eat B-fast...
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According to the University of Alberta, only 12% of Canadians eat a balanced breakfast in the morning. In my last post, I shared my top 5 benefits for having breakfast daily. Today, as a follow-up, I will provide quick, convenient meal time ideas to get you nourished and on your way in the morning!
Anatomy of a Balanced Breakfast: Easy as 1, 2, 3!
1. Think Fibre!
Choose foods that are high in fibre to provide long lasting fuel until your next meal. Fibre not only fills you up, it also lowers cholesterol, stabilizes blood...
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